Katy Contemporary Arts Museum

Come to KCAM to hear Roberta Harris speak about her art, her life and her retrospective on Tuesday, March 31st at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Harris’ work is currently exhibited at Katy Contemporary Arts Museum. A not to be missed show deserves a not to be missed talk. Do not miss this great opportunity.
Roberta is a Houston artist. After graduating from Bellaire High School, she continued studies in art at UT Austin, U of Houston, Hunter College and Parsons School of Design in New York. She was also admitted to join the prestigious Independent Study Program at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Her retrospective spans 42 years of her work as an artist and takes up the entire museum exhibition space with over 60 pieces including sculptures, works on paper and works on canvas.
Harris is one of the artists included in the new book TEXAS ABSTRACT by Jim Edwards and Michael Paglia which will have a book signing at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston on March 21.
The talk is free, donations to the museum are welcome.

The Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC) presents an active and fun-packed weekend of events to kick off spring with its Unplugged Adventure: “Kite Flight!” for the entire family and then the Wild West Tour: “Spring Birding on the Prairie” for adult learners. The following week, KPC teams up with the Katy Contemporary Arts Museum to present “Mooseum” and “Night Sounds at the Museum,” both geared toward younger children.

Pack your kites and bring the kids for a Saturday morning of kite flying from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Mar. 14 under the clear skies of the windy Katy Prairie. One activity is a make-your-own-kite station where folks can construct animal-inspired kites. After flying your kite, be sure to hike around Indiangrass Preserve or enjoy a picnic lunch on the prairie.

On Mar. 15 is “Spring Birding on the Prairie” from 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., led by Master Naturalist and birding expert Glenn Olsen. Get into the spirit of spring, and catch winter migrants preparing for their journey home. Guests can also observe our resident feathered friends preparing to raise families on the prairie.

“Who doesn’t enjoy flying a kite in March?” says Mary Anne Piacentini, KPC’s executive director. “The winds on the prairie are especially conducive to keeping kites aloft to the delight of both children and adults. On Sunday, adults from first-timers to experienced birders will find Glenn Olsen’s Wild West Tour entertaining and enlightening as they get to explore parts of the prairie that are usually restricted.”
Advance registration for “Kite Flight!” is required, and the fee is $3 per person to cover the cost of materials. Volunteers are needed as guides to lead activities. Contact Jaime Gonzalez at the Katy Prairie Conservancy at 713-523-6935 for details. Go to katyprairie.org to register and to find directions to Indiangrass Preserve. The fee for the Wild West Tour is $50 per person, with a portion of that going toward KPC educational programs. Please register online soon, as the Wild West Tours fill up quickly.

During spring break week, children ages five through eight can participate in two prairie-related events at KCAM, 805 Avenue B in Katy. “Mooseum” is set for Mar. 17 from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. to teach children about cows, cowboys, and history. Activities include creating your own “brand,” learning to rope a dogie, and trying your hand at cowboy art with KPC and KCAM staff.

On Mar. 18 from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., youngsters will join a wildlife expert to explore the world of night sounds that can be heard in your backyard or on the nearby Katy Prairie during “Night (Sounds) at the Museum.” Cost for both events is $5, and advanced registration is required on katycam.com.

A first meeting of minds to set forth and plan for establishing a real and working cultural alliance in Fort Bend County took place on February 23, 2015, at the Katy Contemporary Arts Museum (KCAM) in Katy. The meeting was arranged and hosted by Ana Villaronga-Roman, Director of the Katy Contemporary Arts Museum, and was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

The purpose of the new Fort Bend Culture Alliance will be to recommend and promote healthy collaborations and partnerships among all its members, which will provide and promote more opportunities for community residents and visitors who are seeking cultural experiences in our area. The alliance believes that this umbrella organization of cultural groups will ignite and enable steady and healthy tourism growth for all cities in Fort Bend County and provide a much-needed boost in arts and cultural education throughout the area.

“Our goal is to raise awareness, promote and emphasize our county’s healthy move toward more cultural events, as well as to unify arts and culture – to work together in a cohesive countywide strategy rather than only through many citywide projects,” said Villaronga-Roman.

Future plans include the launching of an umbrella website for cultural organizations, inviting not only museums and libraries, but also arts organizations, cultural districts, theaters and performing arts centers to join in and have a voice. The slogans launched recently by the KCAM, “Fort Bend Big” and “Fort Bend, where life is Big,” will become the slogans of this new alliance. Plans were also made to coordinate and promote Fotofest events throughout Fort Bend County in 2016.

Those attending the inaugural meeting with Villaronga-Roman included Carol Adams, President of both the KCAM – Katy Contemporary Arts Museum and the Katy Heritage Society; Adrienne Barker, Museum Director of the Museum of Natural Science Houston in Sugar Land; Chuck Kelly, Chairman of the Fort Bend Historical Commission; Ratha Liladrie, Executive Director of the Rosenberg Railroad Museum; Joyce Kennerly, Public Information Officer of Fort Bend County Libraries; and Claire Rogers, Executive Director of the Fort Bend County Museum Association. Unable to attend but included in this group are: Tracy Golden, Director of Development of the Children’s Museum in Sugar Land, and Dennis Parmer, Director of the Sugar Land Heritage Museum.

Joyce Kennerly Public Information Officer of Fort Bend County Libraries and Claire Rogers, Executive Director of the Fort Bend County Museum Association.

Chuck Kelly, Chairman of the Fort Bend Historical Commission and Joyce Kennerly, Public Information Officer of Fort Bend County Libraries.

DESSERT FOR FIRST 50 COUPLES AND VALENTINE CARDS FEATURING FAMOUS ARTIST FROM KCAM with donation.

The Event will take place; September 14,2015 from 5 pm-8 pm

Katy-residents will have a unique opportunity to take part in a romantic date night under the stars. Willow Fork Drainage District will kick off the evening with acoustic guitar from the Smokestack Son’s, Author Pamela Jones will be available for book signings, the first fifty (50) couples will enjoy dessert from Fish City Grill, Valentine Cards will be available with a donation to the Katy Contemporary Arts Museum. WFDD will end the evening with the movie; “Blended”. This movie is rated PG-13 and parents may want to get a sitter for the kids. This FREE event is one of the many family activates provided to the public by the Willow Fork Drainage District’s Central Green Park – the half-acre multipurpose park and public events venue located on the west end of LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch. The event will take place from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2015. All events at Central Green are subject to weather. Please visit our website or facebook for updates.

Central Green continues to offer a variety of year-round activities and events for all to enjoy. From watching your favorite movie on an outdoor screen to listening to your favorite band or artist on the green, there is something for everyone. Check out the line-up of upcoming events at Central Greenthis fall! Schedules and times are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, visit www.centralgreenpark.com.

Willow Fork Drainage District’s Central Green is a half-acre multipurpose public venue that includes an outdoor stage, large trees and ample outdoor seating. The space is further enhanced with a variety of distinctive shops and restaurants surrounding the property.

Pictured are: Patty Hanson, Kay Callender, Kathie Wiesner, Ana Villaronga-Roman and Sharon Rhoads after the Keep Katy Beautiful board presented KCAM the Katy Proud Business Award at the city council meeting on Monday, June 9th. Photo by Debi Beauregard for The Katy News.

The KCAM – Katy Contemporary Arts Museum opened its doors in September of last year. It took a considerable amount of time, effort and money to restore the building and bring it up to code. The building, originally built in 1953 for Ray Woods and used as a lumber company, had been sitting empty for 3 and a half years and was considered by many to be an eye sore. Ward Stanberry, former owner of the building and former mayor, commented, “You took an old and ugly building and you made it beautiful”. “Well,” said KCAM owner and curator Ana Villaronga-Roman, “we did not make it beautiful – it was beautiful – the building lines were outstanding and the design was absolutely perfect to house what is today Fort Bend County’s only art museum, a place of pride for all to enjoy. The building just needed a bit of tender loving care.”
Villaronga-Roman continues, “The landscaping is planted and taken care of by KCAM volunteers and interns, and is hand-watered daily. This landscaping usually has at least one orange accent to highlight the logo color for the museum.” The paver work was one of the most expensive beautification projects KCAM has finished. The paver paved area is now an inviting area used during events and for live music every third weekend along with Market Days and No Label beer tastings. Out on the front paver patio are wooden bistro tables and chairs to give the museum entrance a more inviting look. The south side of the museum adjacent to the railroad track area has now been converted with triangular shade ‘sails’ to add more curb appeal from Hwy 90 and to improve the look of one of KCAM’s street corners.
Visitors have commented that driving in between the Railroad Park & Tourist Center and the KCAM on Avenue B is the prettiest way to enter the historic district of our city. Congratulations to KCAM.

Katy Contemporary Arts Museum in partnership with Katy Mills Mall is looking for your Comics, Animation, Digital Manipulation, Animated Videos. Open to all ages. Illustration and Drawing. Must be appropriate for all ages. Accepted entries will be exhibited at Katy Mills and winners chosen will exhibit at the KCAM and Babaloo Gallery.

Call for entries. Deadline June 30th, $10 Fee Per Entry. Email entries only to ana@katycam.com.
For more information call (832) 857-1340.

As a special ten year commemoration of the Cinco Ranch Branch of the Fort Bend Public Libraries, Andy Meyers, Fort Bend County Commissioner took the lead for our area in the support for the arts and our young artistic talent. The winners of this exhibition were invited to show their works at the new KCAM – Katy Contemporary Arts Museum. A special reception was organized by Ana Villaronga-Roman, museum director and curator and attended by the students and their families. The museum awarded 16 curator award medals to the young talents. Along with Commissioner Meyers, Carol Adams, KCAM Chairman of the Board and Bob Bryant, Executive Director of Fine Arts for KISD presented the awards to the students.
“I’m impressed with Commissioner Meyers’ unlimited support for the arts in Fort Bend County and the Katy area,” said KCAM director and curator Ana Villaronga-Roman. “Commissioner Meyers stands alone as the one public official that has a track record of ‘always’ speaking out for the arts, organizing worthwhile art events, as well as attending artistic events. I remember three years ago

when he heard about my efforts in starting Katy Art Mixers through what at the time was the brand new Katy Culture & Arts Alliance that I had just established. He came, introduced himself and congratulated me. Seven months ago when KCAM first opened, Commissioner Meyers was standing by my side as we celebrated the grand opening. I’m probably his biggest fan. Our area needs more people like him that understand that every student needs to be allowed to blossom in what he/she is most talented in and that his/her talent might be in the arts and not in athletics, math or science.”

As a special ten year commemoration of the Cinco Ranch Branch of the Fort Bend Public Libraries, Andy Meyers, Fort Bend Commissioner took the lead for our area in the support for the arts and our young artistic talent. The winners of this exhibition were invited to show their works at the new Kcam – Katy Contemporary Arts Museum. A special reception was organized by Ana Villaronga-Roman, museum director and curator and attended by the students and their families. The museum awarded 16 curator award medals to the young talents. Along with Commissioner Meyers, Carol Adams, Kcam Chairman of the Board and Bob Bryant, Executive Director of Fine Arts for KISD presented the awards to the students.
“I’m impressed with Commissioner Meyers’ unlimited support for the arts in Fort Bend County and the Katy area,” said Kcam director and curator Ana Villaronga-Roman. “Commissioner Meyers stands alone as the one public official that has a track record of ‘always’ speaking out for the arts, organizing worthwhile art events, as well as attending artistic events. I remember three years ago when he heard about my efforts in starting Katy Art Mixers through what at the time was the brand new Katy Culture & Arts Alliance that I had just established. He came, introduced himself and

congratulated me. Seven months ago when Kcam first opened, Commissioner Meyers was standing by my side as we celebrated the grand opening. I’m probably his biggest fan. Our area needs more people like him that understand that every student needs to be allowed to blossom in what he/she is most talented in and that his/her talent might be in the arts and not in athletics, math or science.”

Fotofest is the international photography event held every two years in the Houston area. Fotofest Katy/Fort Bend 2014 will begin on March 15th and run through April 26th. This will be the second time it has been held in Katy and the first county-wide exhibition that will include Fort Bend County.
44 photographers will be participating in Fotofest Katy’s Texas-themed exhibition. The photographs will be on view for a six week period and will hold separate artist receptions. The photography biennial will culminate with a juried competition during the Katy Jazz Festival at the ARTkaty Art Fair, April 26 at Katy High School. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 photographers.
Three photographers are being singled out with individual showings: Debi Beauregard with a show titled “Stella & Sophie Visit Texas”, Odila Braga with a show titled “World Views”, and Brandon Campbell with a show titled “Our Texas” .
Venues include the KCAM – Katy Contemporary Arts Museum, Babaloo Gallery, Katy High School, the Sugar Land Regional Airport, and the Cole Theatre in Rosenberg. For more information please contact Ana V Roman at ana@katycam.com.

The Katy Contemporary Arts Museum recently opened their first sculpture exhibition. The show runs through March 11. Simonton native Lee Benner is one of the sculptors. Also included is acclaimed Houston artist Roberta Harris and local artist David Vollmer. Come take a look at a very eclectic collection and get excited about all the new happenings coming to Katy thanks to the KCAM! A special look at the private art collection of Katy local James Pongrass will also be on exhibit.
For more information, contact Ana Villaronga-Roman, Museum Director / Curator Ana@KatyCAM.com or go to KCAM – Katy Contemporary Arts Museum www.katycam.com.